Archive for the 'Gaming' Category

Mass Effect 3: Citadel DLC and ME3MP final thoughts.

Published on March 23, 2013 in Gaming. Closed Tags: 360, blogging, editorial, masseffect, masseffect2, pc, videogames.

me3mpending

NOTE: There will be some Mass Effect 3 Single Player and Citadel DLC spoilers in this entry. I wanted to wait until everyone had the chance to play it before posting. Consider yourself informed. :]

Citadel was re-opening a wound for me. I had already tasted the Humble Pie that was the Mass Effect 3 ending, then the Humble Pie with Added Sugar that was the Extended Cut DLC. I still lacked closure, and obviously the Citadel DLC was meant to be the answer to that. The whole sense of Citadel was the post-ending send off for the characters, and it really showed. There were a few moments where I liked the back-and-forth banter that was obviously there as a set up or continuing an in-joke or fan favourite discussion, but the majority just felt like over the top fan service. The Mako and Hammerhead discussion was used in the squad names, while the Clone Shepard was used as a prop for jokes that involve Shepard (I specifically remember “I should go.”). Don’t get me wrong, the plot behind the DLC was fascinating and ultimately believable. But it begs further questions. Why would The Illusive Man not use the Clone Shepard at all, even to the point of letting it get out to wreak havoc, as an example?

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Pile of Shame – Ace Combat: Squadron Leader

Published on February 19, 2013 in Gaming and Pile of Shame. Closed Tags: acecombat, videogames.

ac5

Ace Combat is a game series that I follow quite strongly on the home consoles, but not so much on the portable side of things. I’m on the verge of completing my Ace Combat collection after getting Ace Combat 2 (despite the original title being named Air Combat in the UK), missing only Electrosphere and The Belkan War to complete it. Ace Combat is a series that has the basics sharpened down to a fine point, and adds new features to it, like Dogfight Mode in Assault Horizon or the Allied Attacks from Fires of Liberation.

But this game stayed uncompleted despite being, having played six of the series’ eight titles, the best of the bunch. I had gotten down to just after the Stadium flyby (I can’t say more than that because of spoilers), and after that I just lost the knack of playing the game. We were taking over a fortress and I kept getting overwhelmed in an A-10 Thunderbolt on a ground attack mission! I put the disc back into the case and forgot about it. Only recently when I had an urge to crack open the PS2 again did I put in Squadron Leader (also known as The Unsung War or just Ace Combat 5).

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Copyright: (Not) A Rant

Published on January 31, 2013 in Gaming and Technology & Internet. Closed Tags: editorial, google, irl, law, lolinternet, microsoft, videogames, youtube.

NOTE: I know this is a touchy subject, so before I begin, I’m defining piracy in this Post as downloading something for free when it could be found elsewhere, digital or otherwise, for a fee. This pairing of Copyright and Piracy will be concluded in a future entry.

Piracy is a subject that gets peoples’ hackles up on both sides of the argument. Those defending the act as exercising their right to Freedom from a ‘creaking business model [becoming] obsolete‘ in swift fashion, and those attacking the act saying that it is taking the money out of the pockets of those that need it most; the people that make it. Everyone believes parts of each argument. I believe that in certain circumstances, the artists are effected but from what I’ve seen those that would be effected don’t seem to mind.

People like Dan Bull who actively offers his music up for free and makes money off donations and other income revenue. Those that want to pay front their money, and those that don’t front their views. Fact is I’m more than happy to pay for Dan Bull’s music, because he makes it worth your while. He tried to game the music charts (and succeeded in the World and Reggae charts), and everyone that helped him got thanked in a song. Thanking us for investing in what we love by making more of what we love. The irony, right?

Another artist that I found on Youtube is Jayme Gutierrez. His DIY MySpam song got picked up by ThePirateBay and they ran with it, generating 200,000 views by my estimation to give this guy more exposure. The reason I like this guy? He charges $5 for his CD. He charges more on shipping in order to not be out of pocket. This guy, in my opinion, is a poster child for artists that want to make a living off doing what they love to do. Give it free, sell it cheap and let the Pareto Principle take it’s course.